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Advanced Microbial Biotechnologies for Food Nutrition and Human Well-Being

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Prebiotics and Probiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 9053

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lili Zhang

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Guest Editor

College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Interests: fermentation; gut microbiota; milk bioactives
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Huaxi Yi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Interests: bacteriocin; probiotic; lactic acid bacteria; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Liang Sun

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison 1552 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726, USA
Interests: bioenergy and sustainability; biomolecular engineering; genetic engineering; metabolomics and metabolic engineering; synthetic biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Background:

Microbial biotechnology refers to any technological application that utilizes microbial systems, microorganisms, or their derivatives to manufacture or modify products or processes for specific purposes. This type of biotechnology is closely related to food nutrition and human well-being. There are a large number of microorganisms closely related to food and health in the human body. The balance of microorganisms in the human body is the key factor to maintain health. As a cell factory, microorganisms can synthesize bioactive compounds, such as enzymes and polysaccharides, that are tremendously beneficial to human health.

This research topic mainly focuses on microbial biotechnology to synthesize health promotion substances, health-promoting/disease prevention microbiota and their metabolites, and their mechanisms to promote human well-being. In addition, it will explore the product opportunities and challenges of microorganisms and microbial metabolites in the food industry from the perspective of nutrition, health, safety, and sustainability. Furthermore, the food safety assessment of microbial-biotechnology-derived food, the control and detection of harmful microorganisms, potential adverse consequences of modified microbes, and any microbial genomic tools to increase food safety are also part of this research topic.

All manuscripts should include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Advanced microbial biotechnologies for the preparation of bioactive compounds that are beneficial to human well-being.

Potential relationships between edible bacterial composition and metabolites, intestinal microecology, and metabolic disorders/diseases.

Studies of the health promotion properties of beneficial microorganisms and their metabolites, including probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics.

Microbial biotechnology in the food industry from the perspective of nutrition, health, safety, and sustainability.

Dr. Lili Zhang
Prof. Dr. Huaxi Yi
Dr. Liang Sun
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

microorganism
biotechnology
nutrition
bioactive
disease prevention
health promotion
sustainability
food safety

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 5171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Menopausal Effect of Soybean Germ Extract and Lactobacillus gasseri in the Ovariectomized Rat Model

by Sun-Hee Lee, Tae-Joong Lim, Eun Ju Yun, Kyoung Heon Kim and Sanghyun Lim

Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4485; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15204485 - 23 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1362

Abstract

Menopause is a significant phase in a woman’s life. Menopausal symptoms can affect overall well-being and quality of life. Conventionally, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to alleviate menopausal symptoms; however, depending on the conditions, HRT may lead to side effects, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapies with fewer side effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of a combination of soybean germ extract (S30) containing 30% (w/w) isoflavone and a probiotic, Lactobacillus gasseri (LGA1), on menopausal conditions in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. We evaluated the impact of S30+LGA on body weight, estrogen markers, uterine and bone health, vascular markers, and neurotransmitter levels. The results revealed that treatment with S30+LGA1 significantly improved body weight and uterine and bone health. Moreover, S30+LGA1 demonstrated promising effects on lipid profile, liver function, and vascular markers and positively impacted serotonin and norepinephrine levels, indicating potential mood-enhancing effects. In conclusion, S30+LGA1, possessing anti-menopausal effects in vitro and in vivo, can be recommended as a soy-based diet, which offers various health benefits, especially for menopausal women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Microbial Biotechnologies for Food Nutrition and Human Well-Being)

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16 pages, 7031 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lactiplantibacillus pentoses CCFM1227 Produces Desaminotyrosine to Protect against Influenza Virus H1N1 Infection through the Type I Interferon in Mice

by Qianwen Wang, Zhifeng Fang, Yue Xiao, Hongchao Wang, Pinghu Zhang, Wenwei Lu, Hao Zhang and Xiuwen Zhou

Nutrients 2023, 15(16), 3659; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15163659 - 21 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1177

Abstract

Microbiota-derived desaminotyrosine (DAT) protects the host from influenza by modulating the type I interferon (IFN) response. The aim of this study was to investigate the antivirus effects of a DAT-producing bacteria strain. A comparative genomics analysis and UHPLC Q-Exactive MS were used to search for potential strains and confirm their ability to produce DAT, respectively. The anti-influenza functions of the DAT producer were evaluated using an antibiotic-treated mouse model by orally administering the specific strain before viral infection. The results showed the Lactiplantibacillus pentosus CCFM1227 contained the phy gene and produced DAT by degrading phloretin. In vivo, L. pentosus CCFM1227 re-inoculation increased the DAT level in feces, and protected from influenza through inhibiting viral replication and alleviating lung immunopathology. Furthermore, CCFM1227-derived DAT was positively correlated with the IFN-β level in the lung. The transcriptome results showed that CCFM1227 activated gene expression in the context of the defense response to the virus, and the response to interferon-beta. Moreover, CCFM1227 treatment upregulated the expression of MHC-I family genes, which regulate the adaptive immune response. In conclusion, L. pentosus CCFM1227 exerted antiviral effects by producing DAT in the gut, and this may provide a potential solution for creating effective antiviral probiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Microbial Biotechnologies for Food Nutrition and Human Well-Being)

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19 pages, 5832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei X12 Strain Induces Apoptosis in HT-29 Cells through Activation of the Mitochondrial Pathway

by Shumei Wang, Yi Shan, Shuang Zhang, Lanwei Zhang, Yuehua Jiao, Dijia Xue, Lili Zhang and Huaxi Yi

Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2123; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15092123 - 28 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1647

Abstract

L. paracasei subsp. paracasei X12 was obtained from traditional cheese produced in northwestern China. In this study, we showed that whole peptidoglycan (WPG), extracted from L. paracasei subsp. paracasei X12, inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, WPG-induced apoptosis was associated with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm), the release of cytochrome c (Cyto-C) from mitochondrialto cytosolic spaces, activation of Caspase 3, and accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that these events were accompanied by upregulation of proapoptotic genes (Bax or Bad) and downregulation of antiapoptotic genes (Bcl-xl). Taken together, our results demonstrated that WPG induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway. WPG exerted only minor toxicity upon noncancerous cells and therefore might be used as a natural agent in the treatment of cancer in future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Microbial Biotechnologies for Food Nutrition and Human Well-Being)

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16 pages, 4974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bifidobacterium bifidum CCFM1163 Alleviated Cathartic Colon by Regulating the Intestinal Barrier and Restoring Enteric Nerves

by Nan Tang, Qiangqing Yu, Chunxia Mei, Jialiang Wang, Linlin Wang, Gang Wang, Jianxin Zhao and Wei Chen

Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1146; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15051146 - 24 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1948

Abstract

Cathartic colon (CC), a type of slow-transit constipation caused by the long-term use of stimulant laxatives, does not have a precise and effective treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Bifidobacterium bifidum CCFM1163 to relieve CC and to investigate its underlying mechanism. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with senna extract for 8 weeks, followed by a 2-week treatment with B. bifidum CCFM1163. The results revealed that B. bifidum CCFM1163 effectively alleviated CC symptoms. The possible mechanism of B. bifidum CCFM1163 in relieving CC was analyzed by measuring the intestinal barrier and enteric nervous system (ENS)-related indices and establishing a correlation between each index and gut microbiota. The results indicated that B. bifidum CCFM1163 changed the gut microbiota by significantly increasing the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, Romboutsia, and Turicibacter as well as the content of short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic acid, in the feces. This increased the expression of tight junction proteins and aquaporin 8, decreased intestinal transit time, increased fecal water content, and relieved CC. In addition, B. bifidum CCFM1163 also increased the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum in feces and the expression of enteric nerve marker proteins to repair the ENS, promote intestinal motility, and relieve constipation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Microbial Biotechnologies for Food Nutrition and Human Well-Being)

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Review

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25 pages, 14491 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on Glucolipid Metabolism in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Rui Xiao, Linlin Wang, Peijun Tian, Xing Jin, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Gang Wang and Minmin Zhu

Nutrients 2023, 15(14), 3240; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15143240 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1971

Abstract

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a persistent metabolic condition with an unknown pathophysiology. Moreover, T2DM remains a serious health risk despite advances in medication and preventive care. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have provided evidence that probiotics may have positive effects on glucolipid metabolism. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of RCTs to measure the effect of probiotic therapy on glucolipid metabolism in patients with T2DM. Methods: With no constraints on the language used in the literature, Excerpta Medica Database, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science were searched for pertinent RCTs published between the date of creation and 18 August 2022. Stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied by two reviewers to independently examine the literature. The risk of bias associated with the inclusion of the original studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and Stata 15.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis. Results: Thirty-seven publications containing a total of 2502 research participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that after a probiotic intervention, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in body mass index (standardised mean difference (SMD) = −0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−0.76, −0.08]), fasting glucose concentration (SMD = −0.73, 95% CI [−0.97, −0.48]), fasting insulin concentration (SMD = −0.67, 95% CI [−0.99, −0.36]), glycated haemoglobin concentration (SMD = −0.55, 95% CI [−0.75, −0.35]), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance score (SMD = −0.88, 95% CI [−1.17, −0.59]), triglyceride concentration (SMD = −0.30, 95% CI [−0.43, −0.17]), total cholesterol concentration (SMD = −0.27, 95% CI [−0.43, −0.11]), and low-density lipoprotein concentration (SMD = −0.20, 95% CI [−0.37, −0.04]), and an increase in high-density lipoprotein concentration (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI [0.08, 0.54]). Moreover, subgroup analyses showed that patients with a longer intervention time, or those who were treated with multiple strains of probiotics, may benefit more than those with a shorter intervention time or those who were treated with a single probiotic strain, respectively. Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation improves glucolipid metabolism in patients with T2DM, offering an alternative approach for the treatment of these patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Microbial Biotechnologies for Food Nutrition and Human Well-Being)

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